Title
Apostille Korea Handles the Embassy Confirmation Behind Foreign Licence Exchanges Licences from Apostille Convention countries are authenticated by that country's foreign ministry, while licences from non-member countries require authentication at the applicant's own embassy locally, so the step can only be completed in the issuing country.
- Related countries
- 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said it now handles, on the applicant's behalf, the local authentication of the embassy confirmation letter, widely regarded as the hardest document to obtain when exchanging a driving licence issued abroad for a Korean one. The letter certifies that the licence was lawfully and properly issued in that country. Which authentication route applies depends on whether the issuing country is party to the Apostille Convention.
- Among the five to six documents required for a foreign licence exchange, the embassy confirmation letter is the hardest to obtain.
- The letter is the step that certifies the licence was lawfully and properly issued in the country concerned.
- Licences from Apostille Convention countries are authenticated by that country's foreign ministry; licences from non-member countries are authenticated at the applicant's own embassy locally.
- Because authentication can only be done in the issuing country, applicants often travel back there in person.
Why the embassy confirmation is the bottleneck
An applicant using the Korea Road Traffic Authority's foreign licence exchange scheme must prepare five to six documents, including the original passport and the original foreign licence. Most of these the applicant can gather personally, but the embassy confirmation letter for the licence is different in kind. It is the step that officially certifies the licence was lawfully and properly issued in the country concerned. The confirmation can only be carried out in the country that issued the licence, so an applicant living in Korea has no way to complete it domestically. As a result, more than a few applicants fly back to their home country for a single document, spending considerable time and expense in the process. The exchange scheme itself is simpler than obtaining a new licence, yet schedules frequently stall on this one document.
Two authentication routes, split by convention membership
The route for the embassy confirmation depends on whether the country that issued the licence has acceded to the Apostille Convention. If the licence comes from a member country, authentication is obtained from that country's foreign ministry; if it comes from a non-member country, authentication must be obtained at the applicant's own embassy in that country. The difficulty is that the authentication format and procedure differ from country to country, which makes the requirements hard to pin down in advance. Misreading those requirements and having to prepare the paperwork again pushes back the entire exchange timetable. Apostille Korea handles overseas consular legalisation and apostille authentication on the applicant's behalf, so the confirmation letter can be secured without travelling abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Can the embassy confirmation letter be obtained in Korea?
No. It is a step that can only be carried out in the country that issued the licence. Using a local agency service allows it to be completed without travelling there yourself.
Do licences from Apostille Convention countries still need an embassy?
A licence from a member country is authenticated by that country's foreign ministry. A licence from a non-member country requires authentication at your own embassy in that country.
Does the procedure differ by country?
Yes. The authentication format and procedure vary from country to country, so confirming the requirements first is what prevents having to redo the paperwork.
Source: 파이낸스투데이 · 2017-06-19